As long as QB Aaron Rodgers is still standing, the Packers have a chance. / Benny Sieu, USA TODAY Sports

by Nate Davis, USA TODAY Sports

by Nate Davis, USA TODAY Sports

AColts: For our money, they've beaten the three best teams in the NFL, largely because of a brutish defense. Reggie Wayne's knee injury is a football tragedy.

Jets: They won early in the Rex Ryan era by combining dominant defense and relentless running while hoping a young quarterback played like Dr. Jekyll (but they'll get some Fs on Geno Smith's Mr. Hyde days).

Packers: Their performance is hardly suffering even if several key players are as the injuries continue to pile up. (Those throwbacks almost knocked you down to an A-.)

Steelers: Rookie RB Le'Veon Bell may have been the missing ingredient all along.

BBills: If it seems like they're doing it with mirrors, look no further than Mike Pettine's defense ... and Mario Williams' re-emergence as a dominant pass rusher.

Chiefs: A nasty defense really brings this undefeated team a winning dimension. But will the Chiefs prove too one-dimensional when the games get bigger?

Cowboys: It's fair to say they've firmly established themselves as the best in a bad NFC East. The defensive stinginess against the high-flying Eagles offense was impressive; the offensive struggles against a grounded Philly defense was not.

Falcons: Nice to break that losing skid, but the Bucs make everyone look good. WR Harry Douglas isn't going to resemble Julio Jones against most teams.

Redskins: Rookie TE Jordan Reed is blossoming in concert with the rest of the offense. The defense? Still looks quite withered.

B-Texans: Don't expect any team with J.J. Watt to roll over in the face of adversity. (But they need to start avoiding adversity. Goodbye, Brian Cushing.)

C+Bears: Credit a Cutler-less offense for not looking rudder-less with much of the credit going to Matt Forte. But the defense, admittedly depleted, looks adrift after a pitiful showing.

Broncos: Before you think about tossing any blame Peyton's way for losing a big game, focus the worry on a banged-up O-line and unreliable running game.

CGiants: Props for sticking one into the win column. But could the Vikings have beaten anyone Monday night?

Lions: As impressive as the newfound balance on offense and D-line are, solid efforts like Sunday's can still go to waste when a weak pass defense is exploited.

C-Titans: QB Jake Locker gamely limped his way around vs. the swarming 49ers ... but was it really worth the risk?

D+Cardinals: Deride QB Carson Palmer and the running game all you want, but it's tough to move the ball when the blocking is this poor.

DBuccaneers: They're not lying down. But they're probably going to get knocked down even more easily with two rookies in the backfield (QB Mike Glennon, RB Mike James).